New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-18
THE CROSBY BILL IND BRIBERY.


The victory which the friends of temperance
achieved in the Assembly Tuesday evening has
rendered the opponents of the Crosby bill des-
perate. Realizing that they cannot beat the
bill by fair means they have determined to try
the force of foul ones. The rum power has
called rascaly lobbyists into its service, and
between now and the hour when the bill is
read for the third and last time an attempt will
be made to compass its defeat by bribery.
This is no mere idle surmise The Capitol
at Albany swarms with the representatives oil
tho lquor-dealers. What are they hanging
about the Legislature fort For any lawful
purpose Have they gone there to argue
against the bill Are they bent on conyinc-
ing Senators and Assemblynen that it is in any
respect at war with the public good The
New York Star" throws a good deal OF light
on these questions, The Star" is ono OF the
leading organs of the party whose faithful
representatives in the Legislature have voted
solidly thus far against the Crosby bill. In Its
issue of Wednesday "Thc Star" printed the
following:
As the time draws when the Legislature to take
action High License BILL the anxiety OF liquor deal
ers in this city and vicinity grows apace Yesterday was
day great interest to the Dealers because had been
by the Liquor Dealers Association and that the members
of the association and the to Join hands and
defeat the efforts OF the High License people. This an
nOuncement TO the least premature ana cafern
inquiry at various points failed to confirm the statement
None OF the officers of the Liquor Dealers Association
would admit the boycott had been removed, while
Secretary seer of the Brewers Exchange claimed that
practically no boycott had ever been imposed upon 'ue
brewers.
The Executive Committee OF the Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation met at Bode Brothers Hotel, sxth-ave and
Twenty fourhst yesterday afternoon and remained In
session until after o'clock Outside of routine business
no hing occurred although 1t was informally
reported that the of 100000 had been raised and
present in the hands of responsible parties to DO
used where 1t would do the most good.
No reason exists for discrcditing this report.
Every reason exists for believing it. 1t is only
natural that power so INSCRIPTIONS as the
rum power should make bribery its agent. 1t
is simply corruption employing the weapon of
corruption. Nor can the significance Of the
statement that bribe-moncy to the amount OF
500 600 is to be "uscd where it would do the
most good " be mistaken. 1t means that the
liquor-dealers have organized conspiracy bav-
ing for its object the purchase of the votes OF
Republican legislators. 1t necessarily means
lust that There is no need of purchasing
Democratic votes, for to their disgrace i1 IL
said it is evident that the Democrats OF tho
Legislature intend voting as they have voted --
sOlidly against the bill.
Such is the situation today. Every intclli-
gent man understands it. The bill awaits It's
final passage The Republicans OF the Legs
lature arc practically unanimous IN It's
support. Behind them are the forces that make
for morality, progress prosperity The Dem
oci ats of the Legislature are banded together
for its defeat. Behind them is the rum power
On it's final reading in the Assembly the meas
| ure cannot fail unless runs big corruption fund
accomplishcs the political ruin Of some OF those
who are now recorded as its friends. The lEIB-
UNE docs not await the rsultwith apprehension.
| II docs not believe that any of the Republicans
whose votes ordered the bill TO a third reading
will be found wanting when the final vote is
taken.